Local Guide · NW Metro Atlanta
The Marietta Square is the historic downtown center of Marietta, the Cobb County seat, built around Glover Park in the middle of the square. Within a few walkable blocks you will find independent restaurants and shops, a restored 1930s theatre, a food hall, art galleries, and a green that hosts concerts, markets, and festivals through the warmer months. It is one of the most active gathering spots in NW Metro Atlanta, and an easy reference point for anyone getting to know the area off I-75.
Here is what the square offers and how to make the most of a visit. Event schedules change by season, so confirm dates on the official sites linked below before you go.
Key Takeaways
- Glover Park anchors the square and hosts seasonal concerts, markets, and festivals.
- The Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre shows films, concerts, and live performances.
- The Marietta Square Market is a food hall with many vendors under one roof.
- Restaurants, pubs, and galleries line the streets around the park.
- The square sits just off I-75, central to Cobb County.
What is there to do around Glover Park?
Glover Park is the heart of the square. Cobb County Mayor John Glover donated the land at the center to the city in the 1840s on the condition it stay a park, and it has anchored downtown ever since. Today the green hosts open-air events and serves as the natural meeting point for a day downtown. Around it you will find a walkable grid of restaurants, pubs, sweet shops, and galleries.
A typical visit mixes a meal, a stroll around the park, and a stop at a shop or gallery. The marietta.com guide to the square keeps a current rundown of businesses, from steakhouses and southern-comfort spots to a soda-and-candy shop and contemporary art galleries.
What can you see at the Strand Theatre?
The Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre on North Park Square is an Art Deco theatre that opened in 1935, operated as a movie house through the 1970s, and reopened in 2009 after a restoration. The nonprofit Strand now programs classic films, concerts, comedy, and live stage performances, and its rooftop terrace overlooks the square. It is a good anchor for an evening downtown, with dinner nearby and a show to follow.
Check the theatre's calendar for current showtimes and tickets, since programming changes throughout the year.
Where should you eat and shop?
The square packs a lot into a small footprint. Rather than a single recommendation, it helps to think in categories so you can match the visit to your group.
| If you want | Head to |
|---|---|
| Many options in one place | The Marietta Square Market food hall |
| A sit-down dinner | Steakhouses and restaurants around the park |
| A casual drink | Pubs and a local brewery on the square |
| A treat or a gift | Ice cream, candy shops, and galleries |
| Local history | The William Root House Museum nearby |
What seasonal events happen on the square?
The square's calendar fills up once the weather warms. A few recurring highlights to plan around:
- Glover Park Concert Series: free Friday-night concerts in the park during the warm season, with lawn chairs and blankets welcome. Check the concert series page for the current lineup.
- Saturday markets: a seasonal farmers market and artisans market run on Saturday mornings near the square.
- Festivals: the square hosts annual festivals through the year, including a popular fall chalk-art and beer festival.
- Theatre programming: films, concerts, and performances at the Strand year-round.
Because dates and lineups change each year, confirm details on the official sites before making plans.
What is it like to live near the square?
Living within reach of downtown Marietta puts walkable dining, events, and green space close by, with quick access to I-75 toward the city. Homes range from historic properties near the square to established neighborhoods a short drive away, so the mix of styles and price points is wide. If a walkable-downtown lifestyle appeals to you, it is worth looking at how different neighborhoods around Marietta balance that access with the home you want.
You can explore the area through my Marietta featured area page, see homes for sale in 30064, or browse all of my featured areas across NW Metro Atlanta.
How do you plan a half-day or full-day visit?
The square rewards a little planning, especially on event weekends. A simple itinerary helps you make the most of a few hours or a full day without backtracking.
- Morning: start with coffee on the square, then catch the seasonal Saturday farmers and artisans markets if you visit on a weekend.
- Midday: graze through the Marietta Square Market food hall, where a group can mix and match cuisines, then browse the shops and galleries.
- Afternoon: stroll Glover Park, visit the William Root House Museum nearby, or relax with a drink at a pub or local brewery.
- Evening: dinner at one of the restaurants around the park, followed by a film, concert, or performance at the Strand Theatre.
On Friday nights in the warm season, the Glover Park Concert Series turns the green into the main event, so plan to arrive early for a good spot and a parking space. Because schedules shift by season, confirm market days, concert dates, and showtimes on the official sites before you build your plan.
What makes the square a good year-round destination?
While summer brings the concerts and markets, the square stays active across the seasons, which is part of what makes it a reliable gathering place rather than a warm-weather-only stop. Fall brings festivals, including a well-known chalk-art and beer event, and the Strand keeps programming films and performances through the cooler months. The holidays bring lights and seasonal events to the green and surrounding streets.
That year-round rhythm is also what gives the area around downtown Marietta its character. Walkable dining, a historic theatre, green space for events, and quick access to I-75 add up to a downtown that people actually use, not just drive past. For anyone weighing where to put down roots in NW Metro Atlanta, spending time on the square is one of the easiest ways to get a feel for the area's daily life before narrowing in on a neighborhood. When you are ready to look at homes, I can help you match the walkable-downtown appeal to the right street and the right house.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Marietta Square?
It is the historic downtown center of Marietta, the Cobb County seat, built around Glover Park and located just off I-75 in NW Metro Atlanta.
Is parking available at the square?
Yes. There is on-street parking and nearby lots and decks. On busy event evenings and weekends, arrive early or plan to park a short walk away.
Are the Glover Park concerts free?
The Glover Park Concert Series concerts are free to attend during the warm season. Bring a chair or blanket, and check the official schedule for dates and the current lineup.
What is the Marietta Square Market?
It is a food hall on the square that gathers many independent vendors under one roof, so a group can choose different cuisines in one place. Markets and museums are nearby as well.
Is the Strand Theatre still open?
Yes. The Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre reopened in 2009 after restoration and operates as a nonprofit, programming films, concerts, comedy, and live performances. Check its calendar for current shows.
Getting to know NW Metro Atlanta?
The Marietta Square is a great window into the area's daily life. If you are weighing where to live, I can help you match a neighborhood to the lifestyle you want, from walkable downtown access to quieter streets nearby. Visit my Marietta page, explore my featured areas, or reach out with questions.
Marna Friedman is a licensed REALTOR® with Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage serving NW Metro Atlanta. Event details change seasonally; confirm with official sources. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to change. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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